Heat but no light in firefighter forum

Tension between career and volunteer firefighters was palpable at a meeting yesterday, but the city had no answers for reconciling differences.

Philip Anselmo

Nearly 30 firefighters filled the board room of the Hurley Building last night to tell the City Council about just what it will take to ease the tension between career and volunteer firefighters.

The council did not have much to say about what it could do to boost the morale and declining ranks of volunteers. Mayor Ellen Polimeni said council members still had yet to discuss the issues.

Still, at-large council member Trudy White-Hamilton had a few words of advice.

“It’s almost ludicrous that a fire department can’t operate without its volunteers,” she said. “You need to have mutual respect for one another. The us-and-them mentality will get you killed.”

Fire Chief of Merrill Hose Co. Jim Fogarty had much to say to the council about effective leadership, getting the best training possible for volunteers and integrating the ranks. Merrill Hose Co. is one of two volunteer companies with active members.

“We really need to stand together,” said Fogarty. “Our career staff is the best in the county. But there just aren’t enough of them. What we would like to see is a program that integrates the volunteer with the career.”

Fogarty spoke about the division he has witnessed at a fire or crash scene, when one career firefighter will take on all the responsibility of an emergency while five volunteers stand by with their arms crossed, waiting for duty. That willing crew is ignored and, as a result, they grow bored with the work and quit, he said.

Others in the audience, both volunteers and paid crew, took issue with Fogarty’s claims.

“I don’t think that’s a common practice,” said fellow volunteer Mark Ross. “We don’t need to go into that. ... Combination departments usually have conflict. It’s the nature of the beast.”

Ross chose instead to talk about the statewide problem of retaining volunteers and getting everybody on the same page.

“We need to work on developing better relations,” he said. “The city has got to get involved in helping us bring in new volunteers. There need to be incentive programs.”

What kind of programs? Fogarty spoke of retirement benefits and tuition assistance for those who may pursue firefighting as a career. Ross suggested paying for a volunteer’s gym membership.

City Attorney Michele Smith said she would have to look into the suggestions.

Disputes over training seemed to reach no conclusion. Some volunteers argued that the training opportunities for career staff were not available to them. Others argued that the number of training hours — 84 hours are required for basic firefighting — were too much for a volunteer who has a full-time job and a family.

“We have gone out and solicited the volunteers for what night is best for them (for training),” said Bryan Kransler. “The training is offered the same as us.”

Kransler is on the paid ranks and schedules the training. He said he does everything he can to meet volunteers’ needs. Several in the audience, career and volunteer, backed him up.

City Planning Commissioner Ed Perego spoke of his longtime affiliation with the Merrill Hose Co.

“Frankly, I have seen a deterioration of the active volunteers,” said Perego. “There has got to be stronger leadership at the top. I have heard nothing but positive things about our new chief.”

Fire Chief Matt Snyder joined the force earlier in the month, replacing Bob Case. He spoke of working together, talking to both sides, and moving forward.

“I would certainly like to leave the department in a lot better shape than I found it,” Snyder said.

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